Stage 7: Fast and Safe For the first time in a week of racing, crashes are not the hot topic of the day. Stage 7 was relatively safe for a day at this year's Tour de France, partially because of the speed. The peloton launched out of Chateaubriant at an incredible speed this afternoon, averaging over 50 kph (30 mph) for the first hour of the race. The second hour was a little slower, but the pace was still quite high. Such high speeds kept the peloton a little more stretched out than we have seen in recent days, which reduces the problem of trying to fit 30 riders across a road that can only fit 15. With the peloton stretched out and moving fast, riders tend to have more freedom to move side to side without causing accidents. While there was the obligatory breakaway, this time featuring Erik Dekker and Thierry Marichal, the significant tactical move occurred on the final climb of the day, within 10 kilometers of the finish line. Looking at the stage profile prior to the stage, every team director knew there was a good chance for an attack to split the field on the final climb of the day. It was a short climb, and the summit was only five kilometers from the finish, making it a perfect launching pad for a last-minute escape. When the moment arrived, Lance Armstrong was right on the front and it looked like he might try to replicate Miguel Indurain's flat-stage breakaway on the stage to Liege in 1995. Heading for his fifth consecutive Tour victory, Big Mig attacked on a small climb, shedding everyone except for eventual stage winner Johan Bruyneel, and in the process gained time on all his rivals. Lance Armstrong was the man sitting on Indurain's wheel when he attacked, and it's a moment he's never forgotten. In the end, Armstrong chose to stay with the field rather than put in a very hard effort that would only have gained him a few seconds, if any at all. Instead it was a small group of Francisco Mancebo, Michele Scarponi, Paolo Bettini, Sebastien Hinault, Filippo Pozzato, and Iker Flores who managed to shed the sprinters and battle it out for the stage win.